splicing tenex

[jamie]

ive just finished my first tenex splice, yet to whip it. im working with 9mm tenex for hitches. i used a 7.5mm fid that is 17.5mm long.

few questions, how long does the splice runup the rope and how does this affect the hitch?

and a certain UK Supplier seems to have spliced the eyes differently to the instructions from samson. why?

i'll attach some pictures of my splice when i can get a picture.

jamie

 

[NickfromWI]

ANSI says you should splice according to the manufacturers recommendations. You're in Scotland, so you can do what you want!

The splice is just saw on www.proclimber.co.uk show a locking brummell splice on the tenex eye-eye sling. The directions from Samson or Yale Cordage don't recommend the locking version. Samson's is actually just a straight bury for 2 fid lengths.

A fid is more or less 20-24 rope diameters (it varies as diameter of rope goes up). Bury that 9mm rope a good 200mm and you'll be doing more than needed.

How does this affect the hitch? Greatly. At the same time you'll be stiffening and thickening the rope. If you are splicing a short eye-eye sling, the tails will overlap, making it even THICKER!

Once you get the skill down, you'll be able to adjust things here and there until you come up with exactly what you want. I make a 1/4" Yalex with the tails buried through the whole thing. The finished product is a supple 3/8" (9mm) eye eye sling that is marvelous as a friction hitch.

Let's see the pics!

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

Oh, and make the taper smoother than what they show on the Samson site.

love
nick

 

[jamie]

cheers

here it is, still not whipped, im slacking.
my splice

sorry about the quality it was taken on my 1.3meg camera phone, its normally a lot clearer.

i eventually gave up trying the 16strand as i couldnt pull the sheath from mark c to d. i must be doing something really wrong.

why dont samson or yale recommed the locking brummell splice, any links to some good instructions for it?

the idea of the splice was to get shot of those fishermans knots / bends. (what is the correct terminology for that knot)

oh and where am i able to get details of samsons / yales / whoevers recomendations on what is safe and unsafe etc

cheers

jamie

 

[NickfromWI]

I've never looked in to the official reason, but I speculate that they do not reccomend the locked version because in pull testing, the locked version usually breaks at lower strengths. In high loads, the strands all need to adjust to evenly share the load. When all the strands are working together, maximum strength can be achieved. In the locking version, this shifting is minimized, strength is reduced.

It's a trade-off. Strength/efficiency vs. Security. Even with the locking version, strengths of 90%+ can be attained. Nothing to fear. And if done properly, it is impossible for it to come undone.

The most important thing to judge the splice your showing is to see how smooth the taper is. Can I see a bit further down the rope?

Go to samson's website or http://www.yalecordage.com/html/splicing_instructions.html for good diretions.

love
nick